January 16, 2010

I've changed this blog to only allow comments from registered users, that is users with blogger/google/openID accounts.

This is to stop spambots but also to stop the baiting and flaming from anonymous users. If you don't want to create an account with blogger/google for some reason, you can of course still use the separate hosted discussion board

This carrier jet was a successor to the F-9 Panther. And is comparable to the Mig-15.

I think that the Cougar would probably come earlier in this timeline due to pressing concerns to match the latest German jets.(due to the high Panther loss rate).

3. Is the USN readying a push into the Western Med shortly?

I think while the USN lost a lot of ships, they got a lot more in reserve and more coming in. while their Axis enemies lost the bulk of their forces.

As said before, I think in the Western Med. Sicily will be the prize, though the Bellearic Islands(Mallorca etc.), Sardinia and Corsica will need to be occupied or neutralized before the Western Med. willl be under Allied control.

THe Bellearic islands make an excellent staging ground to hit eastern Spain while Sicily will be key to cutting off Axis supply lines to North Africa.

4. Is Mussolini's popularity flagging in Italy with the heavy defeat of the Regina Marina in the Pillars and continuing heavy loss of troops in Russia and North Africa?

I think the Italian public is in fear of the atomic attacks(as seen on Spain) and probably backing the losing horse(eg. Mussolini and Hitler).

Hey Anonymous - either obey the rules or go somewhere else - it clearly says no more posting by anonymous users per Bobby - so put up a name or find another board.

As for the questions raised by Tetsuo the Italians havent lost the bulk of their forces - their BB, HCR, and much of their LCR and DD force is still intact as are most of their subs - and the USN is now down several carriers.

Its not over yet - its still a very long fight - and Sicily, as opposed to what happened in OTL, isnt going to fall easily.

As for Mussolini - the Italians still hold Libya, Tunisia, parts of Yugoslavia, Greece and southern France as well as Corsica and Malta - they have taken losses but they still hold a lot more territory than they started the war with. And Italy just gave the USN a bloody nose - it wasnt a one sided battle, both lost heavily.

I don't see the Italian population knowing much about the defeat except through rumors. The propaganda probably only talks about the US losses while mentioning a few heroes and patriots gave their lives in the battle.

They are going to see more cruisers and destroyers in port as the ones that were in Spain and the Atlantic are back in the Med and in Italian ports more often. The ones that survived are back home, anyway.

Bobby, just wondering if we will see another update anytime soon? Since June 2009 we have had a total of four updates, two being the Orange Fire side story, with the war moving forward only a few days. I know you are busy and I know that real life comes before this.

But heck even if if all you did was do a rewrite of an old update (as you said you were doing over a year ago when you re-edited and posted Section 1) or the prequel you mentioned two years ago - gives us something to read.

I know the long term veterans (yes I am talking about CJ and CT) will do the usual "its Bobby's story and he will get back to it again" and tell the usual about long breaks - but its not just your story. Its mine and Roel's and Golladay's and CJ's and CT's and Daniel's and all the others who love to read it and debate it.

Heck even a ONE DAY update is better than nothing.

Submitted with all respect as a true fan of a story that I cant wait to see how it all comes to a final climax and ending.